Pliers



June 20, 1961 c. H. ORTMAN PLIERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 12, 1959IN V EN TOR.

1 CHARLES/l 012mm BY A rroRNEY June 20, 1961 c. H. ORTMAN PLIERS 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 12, 1959 CHARLES H. ORT'MA Arr-we've) UnitedStates atentfOfiice 2,988,941 PatentedJune 20, 1961 Filed Nov. 12, 1959,Ser. No. 852,322 I 3 Claims. (Cl. 81-344) This invention relates topliers and particularly to pliers of the pivoted jaw type havingmeansjassociated therewith for quickly exerting a powerful grip uponapiece to be gripped between the jaws.

It is one of the objects of this invention to construct a tool such aspliers of the above mentioned type which is capable of gripping anobject between the jaws of the tool by the manual application of arelatively light closing force to the handles of the tool which force isthus multiplied many fold into a positive, powerful gripping force tothe jaws for securely gripping a piece therebetween.

Another object of the invention consists in pliers comprising a fixedjaw and a movable jaw pivotally connected to the fixed jaw and theprovision of means intermediate the movable jaw and an extension of thefixed jaw to apply a powerful gripping force to the jaws.

A further object of the invention is the provision of I compoundleverage means for operating the movable jaw with relation to the fixedjaw.

Another object is the provision of a handle operated mechanism forselectively and quickly setting the jaws of the pliers to receive aworkpiece of'selected size and to subsequently, by the manualapplication of a relatively light closing force on the handles,positively gripand hold the piece in the tool. I 1

A further object is a toothed dog and cooperating rack means associatedwith the handles of the pliers which may be operated by one of thehandles first to progressively engage the toothed dog with the toothedrack by applying a force through one part of the dog and then toautomatically shift the applied force through another part of the dog toapply the final positive gripping effort on the piece.

Another object is to eliminate accidental binding between the rack anddog by assuring proper inter-engagement of the teeth of these parts whenthe handles are operated to grip a workpiece.

Another object of the invention is to provide means which can quickly beadjusted to grip workpieces of different sizes and to thereafter apply apowerful gripping force to the pieces. 1

A still further object of the invention consists in pliers of the typedisclosed which is simple of construction, is easy to operate and ispositive in its action.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become more apparentas thefollowing descriptions of two embodiments thereof progress,reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which likereference characters are employed to designate like parts throughout thesame.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side view of a tool embodying my invention showing thesame partly in section longitudinally thereof and illustrating thepositions of the jaws and intermediate mechanisms in gripping aworkpiece;

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to that shown in FIGURE 1 and illustratesrelative positions of the parts when the jaws are in substantially fullyseparated positions as is illustrated in broken lines and present thesesame parts in their relative positions when the handles are operated tobring the. jaws into a position about to grip the workpiece; I I 1,FIGURE3 is a side view of a tool embodying my invention illustrating aslightly modified construction, this view being similar to that shown inFIGURE 1 wherein the workpiece is gripped between the relatively movablejaws; and

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to that shown in FIGURE 3 showing therelative position of the parts in broken lines when the pivoted jaw isin relatively full open position with respect to the workpiece and insolid lines illustrating the approach of the jaws tothe workpiece but'slightly spaced therefrom.

In carrying out my invention, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, I providea fixed jaw 1 which is integrally connected with a handle 2 extendingrearwardly therefrom and which is substantially of U shape in crosssection, said jaw having a working face 3 toothed for grippingengagement with a workpiece W.

A movable jaw -4 is pivoted at 5 to the rearwardly extending portion ofthe fixed jaw 1 at a point close to the head of the jaw and remote fromthe handle portion 2. The movable jaw 4 is formed with an 'arm 6 throughwhich the pivot pin 5 extends, thus allowing the jaw 4 to move towardand away from the jaw 1 about the axis of the pin 5. The pivoted jaw 4is also provided with a toothed work-engaging face, as at 7.

In further carrying out the invention, the movablebr pivoted jaw 4 isalso formed with an arm 8 which extends rearwardly and in a directiondiverging from that of the arm 6. A hollow handle 9 which is of invertedU shape is positioned along and in spaced relation and in substantiallythe same vertical plane as that of the handle 2 and extends forwardlytoward the movable jaw, terminating at that end in a forward portion 10.A toggle comprising a single link or a pair of spaced apart parallellinks 11 is pivotally connected at one end by means of a pin 12 to thearm '8 and is also pivotally connected by a pin 13 at the opposite endto the end portion ,10 of the handle 9.

In order to prow'de for quick selective preliminary adjustment betweenthe jaws 1 and 4 to receive a workpiece of selected size, I provide amechanism operable by the handle 9 and which includes a rack 16 which isrigidly secured to the handle 2 at points rearwardly'of the pivot 5 asat 17. This rack 16 is provided with a series of teeth 18 along itsupper surface which are adapted to be engaged by mating teeth 19 formedin the lower surface of a dog 15. i

A coil spring 20 has one end attached to the movable jaw and its otherend is attached to the dog 15 so that there is a normal tendency of thespring to draw the dog 15 and the arm 6 of the movable jaw toward eachother. When an object W is gripped between the jaws 3 and 7, the spring20 will be placed under increased tension as the thickness of the objectis greater and under less tension where a thinner object is gripped. j

A transverse pin 22 is located in the forward end 10 of the handle 9near the pivot 13 which carries the link 11 at the end of the handle.The dog 15 is preferably in the form of a flat plate having the teeth 19formed along its lower surface for engagement with the teeth 18 of therack 16 and is provided with a rather deep notch 23 which has at itsinner end a rounded bearing surface indicated at 23' which is adapted toreceive and have bearing engagement with the pin 22 when the parts arein the position shown in FIGURE 1. The pin 22 thus acts as a fulcrum forthe handle 9 when it is in the bearing seat 23' and the dog is in theposition shown in 3 FIGURE 1.

- which is carried in the forward portion of the handle 9 and projectsthrough the opening 24 and operates therein. As shown in FIGURE 1, pin28 is out of contact with the walls of the opening 24 which occurs whenthe pin 22 is seated in the bearing notch 23, as also shown in thisfigure. Thus, when the jaws are gripping a workpiece W, as illustratedin this figure, as a result of a squeezing pressure put upon the handles2 and 9 to bring them into the position shown, the fulcrum of the handle9 will be rotated on the axis of the pin 22 and an upward pressure willbe exerted through the pin 13 and the toggle 11 to the pivoted jaw 4,thus bringing the jaw 4 into positive gripping relation with theworkpiece W. At the same time the dog 15 is forced into positivegripping relation with the rack 16 through the respective teeth 19 and18.

Due to the leverage arrangement through the forward end of the handle 9,the links 11 and the movable jaw 4 together with the relative positionsof the centers identified by the pins 22, 13, 12 and 5, a tremendousgripping pressure can be imposed through the jaws to the piece W as aresult of a relatively light closing pressure placed manually on thehandles 2 and 9.

When the workpiece W is to be released from the jaws of the tool, anupward movement of the handle 9 relative to the handle 2 and about thepin 22 will tilt the jaw 4 out of engagement with the workpiece. As thehandle 9 is moved from the position shown in FIGURE 1 to the positionshown in FIGURE 2 in solid lines, it will be noted that the pin 28,which heretofore has been out of contact with the walls 25 and 26defining the opening 24, will assume a position in contact with thewalls 25 and 26 adjacent their intersection 27. In this position the pin22 will be withdrawn from the bearing seat 23 and an upward pressure isexerted on the dog 15 tending to tilt the dog in a clockwise directionso that its teeth 19 will progressively be disengaged from the teeth 18of the rack 16. This is illustrated in solid lines in FIG. 2 and, underthis condition, further upward movement of the handle 9 toward thebroken line posi tion in FIG. 2 will cause the pin 28 to engage theintersection 27 and lift the dog 15 to the broken line position and willfurther withdraw the bearing surface 23 from engagement with the pin 22,thus shifting the movable jaw 4 to the broken line position in thisfigure.

The forward end of the handle 9 is formed with a surface 31 which is incontact with the stop pin 32 carried by the links 11 at a pointintermediate the ends of the links to limit forward movement of theforward end of the handle relative to the links 11 only when the teeth18 and 19 are disengaged and will therefore prevent too great acounterclockwise movement of the links during such disengagement of theteeth. It will be seen that as the handles 9 and 2 are relatively movedto a widely separated position as in broken lines in FIG. 2 and with theteeth 18 and 19 disengaged, the links 11 will be drawn to the right toopen the jaws, while a rela tive movement of the handles to the fullline position in FIG. 1 with the teeth 18 and 19 engaged will operatethrough the links 11 and the pins 12 and 13 to close the jaws about theworkpiece W in positive gripping relation thereto.

As the handle 9 is brought from the broken line position in FIG. 2downwardly to the position shown in full lines in FIG. 2, it will alsobe seen that the teeth 19 on the right hand end of the dog 15 will beginto engage the teeth 18 on the rack 16. At this point the pin 28 willmove downwardly and out of engagement with the walls 25 and 26 of theopening 24 and the pin 22 will be seated in the notch 23'. Continuedmovement of the handle 9 toward the handle 2 to the position shown inFIG. 1 will engage the jaws 3 and 7 with the work W and will move ortilt the dog 15 in a counterclockwise direction to progressively engagethe teeth of the dog the tension of the spring 20. A further downwardpressure on the handle 9 while the teeth 18 and 19 are thus engaged willexert a force through the links 11 about the pivot pins 13 and 12,respectively, to be transmitted to the jaws 3 and 7 to exert a powerfulgripping action upon the workpiece held between the jaws. It will beobserved that because of the pivotal relationship between the forwardend of the handle 9, the links 11 and the arm 8 of the movable jawwhatever closing force is applied to the handle 9 will be considerablymultiplied at the movable jaw and thus will permit a strong and positivegripping pressure on a workpiece held between the jaws by theapplication of merely a relatively light closing pressure on the handle.

When the teeth of the dog 15 are in mesh with the teeth of the rack 16,as shown in FIG. 1, movement of the dog is prevented in any directionand a downward or closing movement of the handle 9 will tend to keep thedog in this position by virtue of a downward pressure exerted throughthe pin 22 in the seat 23.

To release the workpiece held in the jaws of the tool, it is merelynecessary to release the closing pressure on the handles whereupon thespring 20 will tend to unseat the dog 15 from the rack 16 and towithdraw the movable jaw from the workpiece, as shown in FIG. 2resulting in an upward movement of the handle 9 to the full lineposition in FIG. 2 whereupon the workpiece may readily be removed fromthe jaws.

It will also be noted that because of the relationship of the pins 22,28 and 13, a downward movement of the handle 9 from the broken lineposition in FIG. 2 will result in a progressive meshing of the teeth ofthe rack and the dog from right to left in FIG. 2, thus precluding thepossibility of any of these respective teeth binding or obstructing thenatural tendency of the dog to assume the full meshed position of therack, as shown in FIG. 1.

The handle 9 is recessed along its top intermediate the handle properand the forward end 31 to provide an edge or ledge 30 which engages thepin 30' as the handle is moved upwardly toward the broken line positionin FIG. 2, and along which the pin 30' has sliding contact.

By such leverage means, the jaws are relatively separated with greatease against the tension of the spring 20 to receive a workpiece W bymerely raising the handle 9 with one hand while holding the handle 2with the other. At the beginning of such upward movement of handle 9,the teeth 18 and 19 will, of course, be disengaged.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings, I have shown a slightlymodified form of my invention which is substantially the same as thatshown in FIGS. 1 and 2 but which shows the rack 16 as being secured inthe lower handle 2 at its forward portion by means of the rivets orother securing means 17 in a substantially horizontal direction, whereasin FIGS. 1 and 2 the rack is positioned in a forwardly and upwardlyinclined direction disposing the rack teeth along a line which issubstantially parallel to the work gripping teeth 3 of the fixed jaw 1.The movable jaw 4 is pivoted to the fixed jaw, as at 5 and is providedwith the forwardly converging arms 6 and 8 as in the previouslydescribed embodiment of the invention.

As described in connection with the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2,the dog 15 comprises a fiat member having a series of teeth 19 along itsbottom edge for engagement with the teeth 18 of the rack 16. The coilspring 20 is attached at one end to the dog 15 and at its other end tothe pivoted jaw 4 and normally urges these members toward each other. Ina manner similar to that previously disclosed, the dog 15 is providedwith an inwardly directed notch forming a crotch 23 at its innerextremity against which the pin 22 carried by the handle 9 has bearingengagement when the parts are in the position shown in FIG. 3. The pin22 in this position serves as a stop to prevent forward movement of thedog 15 under" the tension of spring 20 butat the same time permitsrotational movement of the dog about the pin22 as, for instance, whenthe parts are in the position shown in solid lines in FIG. 4.

A'pini28 operates in the opening 24 formed in the dog and as shown inFIG. 3 is located in a position removed from the point of intersectionof the upper wall 25 and the side wall 26,this point of intersectionbeing indicated at 27.

When the handle 9 is raised to operate the jaws 3 and 4 so that aworkpiece W can be inserted therebetween, the pin 28 will ride up alongthe side wall 26 of the opening in the dog and will be seated, as shownin FIG. 4, at the crotch or intersection point 27, thus lifting the dogto the broken line position and completely out of engagement with therack 16.

The pin 28 engages the intersection point 27 almost immediately upon alifting of the handle 9, as shown in the full line position in FIG. 4and, at the same time, the pin 22 begins to unseat itself from thecrotch 23, thus permitting the dog 15 to be tilted in a clockwisedirection against the tension of spring 20, as shown in full lines inFIG. 4. As the handle 9 is moved forwardly toward the position shown inbroken lines, the dog will be lifted by the pin 28 completely out ofcontact with the rack and against the tension of the spring 20.

The handle 9 is provided with a forwardly and upwardly disposed abutment40 which engages at its right hand portion the bridging stop 41 formedon the links 11 when the handles are separated as in FIG. 4, thuslimiting counterclockwise movement of the links 11 about the pin 12.

By such leverage means, the jaws are relatively separated with greatease against the tension of the spring 20 to receive a workpiece W bymerely raising the handle 9 with one hand while holding the handle 2with the other. At the beginning of such upward movement of handle 9,the teeth 18 and 19 will, of course, be disengaged.

It is to be noted in connection with both embodiments of the inventionillustrated that the pin 28 moves along but out of contact with the sidewall 26 of the opening 24 to the seating position at the intersectionpoint 27 of the walls 25 and 26. The load is thus transferred or shiftedfrom the pin 22 to the pin 28 and as the handle 9 moves from the fullline position in FIG. 4 to the dotted line position, this motion will betransmitted through the link 11 to raise the movable jaw 4 about thepivot 5 so that a workpiece W can be inserted between the jaws. When thehandle 9 is lowered toward the handle 2 to put the workpiece inposition, this movement will transmit the force through the forward endof the handle 9 to the links 11 and thence to the jaw 4 to rotate it ina counterclockwise direction so that the jaw will move toward theworkpiece and finally engage and grip it. As the handle now approachesthe'position shown in solid lines in FIG. 4, the teeth on the dog 15will be brought into meshing engagement with the teeth on the rack 16beginning at the right hand end of the dog and rack and, as the handle 9is moved further toward closing and work gripping position, the pin 22will enter its seat 23 in the notch and permit the dog to rotate stillfurther to progressively engage its teeth with the teeth of the rack 16in a progressive forward direction to the left. At the same time, thepin 28 will be unseated from the intersection point 27, as in FIG. 3.

In this form of the invention, I have illustrated a form of clampingmeans similar to that shown in my Patent No. 2,701,487, granted February8, 1955, for releasably holding the arms 2 and 9 in closed position asillustrated in FIG. 3. Such means include clamping bar 42 which is ofelongate form and which is provided with a transverse pin or stop 43 atits lower end bridging the slot 33' and which is provided with a head orbent over portion 32 at its other end. This member 42 opcrates in andalong a narrow guide slot 33 formed along the handle 9 in the uppersurface thereof and passes through the handle and into the lowerhandle 2through the slot 33', the lower end of the member projecting through awider slot 34 formed at the bottom .of the lower 'h andle and throughwhich the pin 43 may pass. A pin 35 is transversely carried in the lowerhandle and limitsthe forward'rnovement of the member 42.

It will be noted that the clamping member 42 when in locking position tohold the handles in adjusted position will engage the rear end wall ofthe slot 34, as shown at 36 in FIG. 3 and the head 32 will engage alongthe upper surface of the handle 9 along the slot 33, as at 37, thuscreating a clamping or binding action between the handles and with thepin 35. The length of the clamping member 42 is such that it will permitthe handles 2 and 9 to be extended to their relatively full positions asshown in FIG. 4.

Various changes may be made in the details of con struction andarrangement of parts of the invention without departing from the spiritthereof or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a wrench, the combination with a handle having a relatively fixedjaw, of a relatively movable handle, a movable jaw pivotally connectedwith the movable handle and fixed jaw, and cooperating means carried onthe handles movable for engagement and disengagement with each otherwhen the handles are relatively moved toward and away from each other,respectively, said means including a toothed member on each handle, oneof said toothed members being slidably and pivotally carried on one ofthe handles, means tensioning said one member, the other member beingfixed to the other handle, and means on said one handle for impartingsliding and pivotal movement to said one toothed member when the handlesare relatively moved.

2. In a wrench, the combination with a handle having a relatively fixedjaw, of a relatively movable handle, a movable jaw pivotally connectedwith the movable handle and fixed jaw, and cooperating means carried onthe handles movable for engagement and disengagement with each otherwhen the handles are relatively moved toward and away from each other,respectively, said means including a toothed member on each handle, one.

of said toothed members being a dog that is slidably and pivotallycarried on one of the handles, means tensioning said one member, theother member being fixed to the other handle, and means on said onehandle for imparting sliding and pivotal movement to said one toothedmember when the handles are relatively moved, said last named meanscomprising first and second pins carried by said movable handle andengageable with first and second seats in said dog, said first seatbeing formed by an opening in said dog, one of said pins operatingwithin the opening to enter and leave said seat, the second seat formedin a wall of said dog and said second pin enters and leaves said secondseat but out of phase with the movement of the first pin.

3. In a wrench, the combination with a handle having a relatively fixedjaw, of a relatively movable handle, a movable jaw pivotally connectedwith the movable handle and fixed jaw, a link pivotally connecting atits respec tive ends the movable jaw and the movable handle, andcooperating means carried on the handles movable for engagement anddisengagement with each other when the handles are relatively movedtoward and away from each other, respectively, said means including atoothed member on each handle, one of said toothed members being a dogthat is slidably and pivotally carried on one of the handles, meanstensioning said one member, the other member being fixed to the otherhandle, and means on said one handle for imparting sliding and pivotalmovement to said one toothed member when the handles are relativelymoved, said last named means comprising first and second pins carried bysaid movable handle and engageable with first and second seats in saiddog, said first seat being formed by an opening in said dog, one of saidpins operating within the opening to enter and leave said seat, thesecond seat formed in a wall of said dog and said second pin carried bythe movable handle enters and leaves said second seat but out of phasewith the movement of the first pin, said link having a transverse stopportion between its ends and engageable with the adjacent end of themovable handle to limit pivotal movement of the link as the handles arerelatively moved in the direction of separation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSRobbins Dec. 3, Robinson Apr. 20, McCullough Sept. 12, McGill Nov. 29,Prentice Nov. 11, Ortman Feb. 8, Miller Sept. 29,

